Robert Burke Puts Paris Couture Before Chattels Real

Luxury-fashion consultant Robert Burke, the former director of men’s fashion at Bergdorf Goodman, last week had to juggle a tireless travel schedule and the sale of his Murray Hill apartment. Luckily for Mr. Burke, who is presently in Paris to attend a few couture shows, his digs’ new buyer came to him before the place even hit the market.

“This realtor called me a few months ago saying her client saw the pictures of my apartment from Elle Décor posted on a design blog,” Mr. Burke told Fashion Week Daily. "She said, ‘My client really, really wants to buy your apartment.’” Despite any apparent enthusiasm, the fashionista never expected to hear from the realtor again, especially after he offered up a sizable (undisclosed) sale price. But he was mistaken, of course. The two parties closed the deal last Thursday.

After Mr. Burke returns from the city of lights, he “and his Steven Klein photographs,” will move into a hotel until his new place is renovated. No shabby affair, the apartment, located on Park Avenue South, is reportedly twice the size of his old Murray Hill home (it also comes with a rooftop terrace). “I’m going to have to get all new furniture now,” Mr. Burke told the Daily. “This new place is more modern compared to my old place, which was classic—but not wound-up classic.”